Sample Neglect Letter
This is something I can easily start doing now by just requiring a
fee to send a registered letter. It's a start anyway. Feedback on Firecracker Dog has
dropped off, please send this around to newsletter publishers (any type), anyone with an
animal page who might be interested in posting the link, etc. I did try to keep it simple
as the recipients will most likely be simple minded. Thanks!
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Attention Resident, (Name will be used if known.)
This is to inform you that one or more of your neighbors has reported you to this agency
for neglect as a caretaker of your dog(s) __________, cat(s)__________, other(s)
_________. Include clear, complete description(s) and name(s) if known.
Specifically:________________(Use examples like no shade, dirty water or lack of fresh,
letting animal run loose, actually seeing an animal being hit or hearing whimpering,
repeated pregnancies, animal is too thin, filthy, matted, limping, scratching excessively
and/or chewing/biting itself - fleas and ticks can suck an
animal dry fast - excessive barking can also indicate problems.)
What you are doing or failing to do does not at this time qualify as legal
abuse. Laws and the enforcement thereof, including investigation and
penalties such as fines and jail sentences vary from state to state. You may not be aware
that animal neglect and abuse is finally being taken seriously by the legal system.
If your animal has become a problem you are unable to handle, for whatever reason, please
be advised that turning that animal over to a humane society is advised. There is no
guarantee that the animal will find a new home, however, humane euthanasia ("putting
down") will relieve the animal of further neglect and the probability of eventual
abuse at your hands.
Please do not decide to dump the animal on the street because that may be more convenient.
Your neighbors are watching you, and a copy of this letter has been sent to your local
animal shelter and/or humane society. (Include address(es).)
If you feel you have been unfairly accused or wish to tell your side of the story, please
contact this agency at the above address. It is strongly suggested that you do nothing to
attempt retaliation against whomever you think may be responsible for starting this action
(report and this letter) as your guilt would be obvious.
Martha Jones
JAAM (Jail for Animal Abuse Mandatory)
11469 Olive Blvd. #236
St. Louis MO, 63141
Make checks payable to JAAM (and Martha Jones in parenthesis). $10 will adequately cover a registered mailing with return receipt (to JAAM) and postage for envelopes and stationery, including copy letters. The extra money will make my time standing in line at the post office less irritating and will be applied to setting up a separate domain name and ISP specifically for this project. Due to the cost of legal fees, it may be a few months before nonprofit status can be established. Any additional money you may choose to include for this service will be applied secondly to legal fees but will not be tax-deductible. Also please note, the fee will deter anyone trying to take advantage of the service by using it for annoyance (see example below). I do have several plans for outside fundraising, those too will take some time to establish and produce results. Watch this page for updates.
The mighty oak was once a little nut that held its ground.
Back to Firecracker Dog main page
A few responses to initial circulation of idea, copied without editing, except for repetition or off-subject.
I am not writing this as a hate mail. I just have to say this in defense of those who may receive this letter. My neighbor continuously turns me in for animal neglect. My german shepard stays outside. Always has. He likes it that way. He is off the chain when my husband is home, so that we can make sure he doesnt' leave the yard. This woman is building another house down the street and has no clue when I feed/water my dog, but calls the dog warden at least once a month saying that I don't water or feed my dog. If you sent this letter to me, simply because of a nosey neighbor who has nothing better to do, I think I might get pretty damn angry. I just want someone to tell me how she can know, or anyone for that matter, when I water or feed my dog. First of all, no one can get near him on his chain. He would take their hand off. Secondly, I am a stay at home mom.....I have no car, so I can't go anywhere. I think I would know if she tried to check their water dishes.I guess I am writing to you to ask if you check into these things prior to mailing your letters? And if so, how? I would hate to get a threat of jail, such as that letter, without facts being presented to me. Again, this isn't directed at you. I am just curious.Thanks for writing. My intent was to "stir the pot." First, and most
important, the letter does invite a rebuttal, to tell the other side of the story, just
like you did. If the dog warden has checked, there must be no problem, or you wouldn't
still have your dog. What I would do in a case like yours is throw that right back at the
person who requested my letter be sent. Then, that person would be forced to check with
the animal control officials. You probably have a case of an overzealous do-gooder who
needs to learn to butt out. A lot depends on individual policies. Each agency handles
records of complaints differently. It's surprising that they continue to check you on
after being "cleared" a few times. It wouldn't hurt to call them yourself to ask
why. I would be interested to know what the response is.
Incidentally, one of the reasons for my fee for sending a registered letter is to force
cranks to put their money where their mouths are.
If you'll read the letter carefully again, you'll see that it does not threaten jail. My
overall goal is to force harsher legislation in real abuse cases - the
warning letter is a way to fill in a "gray area" not being being handled at
present.
As a person who loves her dog, you can help others in several ways by circulating the Firecracker Dog page.
Gruesome abuse happens every day. The intent of the warning letter is to stop
neglect/mistreatment before it turns into "legal" abuse. Example: There is a
case of a dog fatally beaten with a sledgehammer currently waiting to go to court. The
neighbors reported whimpering. Unfortunately the police arrived too late. After taking a
break for a few beers, the idiot (can't call him a man) decided to go out and finish the
job. Sickening isn't it? The dog laid there half dead already for more than an hour.
There's more on the Firecracker Dog page if you want to follow up. Basically that's one
case where, if the neighbors had acted on any prior abuse clues, the dog would be safe in
a shelter.
Naturally, what else? Actually, my letter will also serve to stop that kind of harassment. Depends on the crank in each case. They do mean well usually, just get so caught up in their "crusade," they can't think straight.Thanks for writing back. I did go back and read it again, and saw the rebuttal part. Whew...when I read it the first time, as I am sure you know, emotions went flying over my neighbor.
~~~~~~~~
I just reported my neighbor for neglecting their dogs. The poor dogs were left
outside, for over 13 hours. In the Florida sun, with yellow water. That water was
gross. Needless to say, the dogs are no longer at the house. They must have been
taken away. :)
Good for you! Be proud of yourself, so many are afraid to get involved.
~~~~~~
WOW, but that's some serious medicine! Thanks for sharing this with me, my dear friend! I am certain that a message like this could really shake some sad sorry sonofabitch up! Take care and God bless, love, Bear!
All comments are welcome, please include your name if OK to use.